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The congregation at the church is about 20 percent Latino. Pastors said about 15 members have faced deportation since 2007, and they are now fighting to keep other families from being effected.

In March, Juan Pelcastre-Garrido was torn away from his wife and niece. His Pastor Shawn Anglim said that's when immigration officials and Chalmette police raided their home.

"(They) pounded on the door, said, 'If you don't open your door, we're going to knock your door down.' They opened the door, they came in without invitation, without a search warrant and they went room to room basically, searching for something that they could arrest someone for," Anglim said.

Officials found three hunting rifles in the house that Anglim and Garisso's wife said belonged to another member of the household. Juan was arrested and has been in U.S. marshal custody for eight months. Church leaders said they are concerned that government action involving immigrants has been increasingly heavy-handed.

"These are our friends, these are our members of our church and we think that most American's would find this type of law enforcement errs on the side of injustice instead of erring on the side of justice," Anglim said.

Last week Garrido entered a guilty plea to a felony charge of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. He also signed a statement acknowledging that he now becomes subject to a mandatory removal from the country.

"I have much hope and faith in God, but what the lawyers have said is that she can't fight anymore and he probably will be deported," said Garrido's wife, Matilde Gayosso.

Gayosso said she's lived in the country undocumented for 17 years, and her husband has been with her for eight years. She said she's grateful for the opportunities they've had, but said her family has been ripped apart.

"This country has allowed me to keep my father alive. No, I don't cast the blame on the country, but probably for the people who have imprisoned my husband who is innocent and remains innocent," Gayosso said.

She added if her husband is deported, she will likely move back to Mexico to be with him, though she worries there will not be opportunities for her son and disabled father.

Garrido's attorney, Catherine Chavarri, said a criminal court judge sentenced him to eight months time served. He will now be placed in immigration custody for proceedings. She added because of his undocumented status and his felony conviction Garrido will likely be deported, though she couldn't give a specific time frame.